PI hospital’s new leader takes helm

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A Massachusetts woman has started her tenure leading one of Aroostook County’s largest hospitals into the future.

Sylvia Getman, who was named president and chief executive officer of The Aroostook Medical Center in June, has begun serving in the position, hospital officials said Friday.

Getman previously served as president and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital, a 19-bed hospital on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. She also has served as CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa, and vice president for network systems for Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, Iowa.

Getman replaces Dave Peterson, who retired after more than 30 years at the helm of the hospital.

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The Aroostook Medical Center has an active medical staff of more than 50 physicians and other health care practitioners, plus consulting and courtesy staff. The facility, an affiliate of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, employs more than 1,000 people.

Peter St. John, chairman of the hospital board of trustees, said the board is excited to welcome Getman to the hospital. He said the board believes that Getman “has the leadership skills and vision needed to help the organization face the challenges that lie ahead in health care.”

“The past couple of decades have been characterized by growth as TAMC became the pre-eminent health care organization in the area,” he said. “Now it’s time to begin a new chapter in our history, and we are happy that Sylvia is here to lead us into it.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the excellent TAMC team to serve Presque Isle and surrounding communities,” said Getman. “My family and I have fallen in love with this beautiful area and look forward to getting settled and getting to know everyone.”

Getman acknowledged that the health care industry has been affected by the economic downturn, but said that she believes she can build upon the infrastructure at TAMC to continue to meet the health care needs of County residents.

Getman comes to the facility during a time of change. In January, the medical center became the first hospital in Aroostook County to offer digital mammography to its patients. Last December, Horizons, a subsidiary of TAMC, began operating a walk-in clinic at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Presque Isle. Last August, the hospital opened North Street Healthcare, a family health care center and medical mall offering walk-in care, adult primary care, pediatrics, dialysis, nephrology, patient billing and physical therapy services for residents of the city and surrounding communities.